The co-host of Channel Ten program The Circle has publicly apologised for making comments construed by some to be sexist and disrespectful about Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith, saying she had never met the Australian war hero and "felt sick" at the angry backlash she had received after branding him brainless.

Yumi Stynes admitted she did not know much about Corporal Roberts-Smith when she commented on a photograph of the shirtless war hero in a swimming pool yesterday, saying: "He's going to dive down to the bottom of the pool to see if his brain is there."

He's going to dive down to the bottom of the pool to see if his brain is there.

Stynes's guest, co-host and veteran journalist George Negus had then quipped: "I'm sure he's a really good guy, nothing about poor old Ben. But that sort of bloke, and what if they're not up to it in the sack?"

Another host questioned whether Negus was suggesting "that he could be a dud root", to laughter from the audience.

Backlash ... Yumi Stynes and The Circle co-host Gorgi Coghlan.

But their flippant treatment of Corporal Roberts-Smith - who single-handedly stormed an enemy machinegun position in Afghanistan in 2010 - angered relatives of decorated war veterans as well as viewers, who flooded the television show's Facebook page with furious comments.

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New South Wales RSL president Don Rowe also reportedly called for an apology on air.

The show's treatment of Corporal Roberts-Smith also came under fire after the soldier revealed in a candid interview on Channel Seven's Sunday Night that he and his wife had conceived their twin daughters through IVF treatment.

IVF parents ... Ben Roberts-Smith at home with his wife children in a profile featured on Channel Seven's Sunday Night program. Photo: Channel Seven

Stynes said on air today that she did not know much about Corporal Roberts-Smith nor the Australian Defence Force, and merely saw a "very handsome guy".

"So I made a joke, because how could anybody possibly be so perfect?" Stynes said.

"What I didn't estimate was how much my joke was not appreciated. I sort of intimated that maybe he wasn't very smart, because how could you be that buff and spend that much time in a gym and be smart as well? And people have been a bit angry and I've been getting a lot of angry messages.

"And I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to offend anybody and I have total respect for people that work in the defence forces, and I've never met Ben but I'm sure he's lovely and he does seem like a big family man."

The former Channel [V] host said she felt sick after the backlash, and that "I think most people know that I'm good-hearted".

Network Ten also released a statement late this morning apologising for the comments.

'Good in the sack?' ... Broadcaster George Negus was a guest on the show.

"We recognise he is a highly decorated soldier, national hero and we have the utmost respect for him," the statement said.

"We are sorry for any offence this may have caused him and sincerely echo today's apology by The Circle."

"In the wake of media and public reaction to comments attributed to me on The Circle television program, this is what I actually said yesterday: 'I'm sure he's a really good guy, nothing about poor old Ben - But that sort of bloke, and what if they're not up to it in the sack?'," he said.

"Read properly and in context, it can be seen that what I actually intended to be a 'tongue-in-cheek quip' about men generally with great bodies. In no way was it meant to be a comment or a reflection on Corporal Ben Roberts - Smith, directly or otherwise.

"However, if my comment has unintentionally offended Ben, his family, or his ADF / SAS colleagues, obviously I am sorry."

The Circle's Facebook page was flooded with angry comments, while a relative of another decorated war veteran contacted The Age to call for the Stynes and Negus to be sacked.

"Their comments are disgusting, bird-brained, and an insult to the ADF," Frances Butcher said.

"As the great niece of Captain George Milne, awarded a Military Cross for his bravery in France in 1918, I advocate that all involved in the shameless performance be made to give a proper apology - as well as being dismissed."

One viewer on The Circle's Facebook page wrote: "Shame shame shame you idiots its disgusting.

"My neighbor is a ww2 vetran at kokoda you have tarnished the whole aussie defence force , IDIOTS."

Another said he could not "believe they would speak so trashy about a guy who would do anything for our country".

One viewer complained: "An Australian who has been honoured as a V.C. recipient deserves all the accolades we can lavish on him - He's the epitome of a great Aussie bloke! What a disgusting comment by this bird brain 'Yumi' Who is she?? and even more surprising and disappointing is the derogatory comment from George Negus - A journalist I've had great respect for in the past."

Some called for Yumi to be sacked from the show, but others claimed that the comments were light-hearted and people had overreacted.

"Where's your Australian sense of humor! I guarantee he [Corporal Roberts-Smith] wasn't even offended! (unless of course what she said is actually true!)," wrote one woman.

In response to the backlash, The Circle posted an apology on its Facebook page late yesterday to anyone who had been offended.

"Gotta love live T.V.!," the apology read.

"What started out as an innocent admiration of one of Australia's heroes today unfortunately ended up changing direction.

"I hope you all know us well enough by now to know that we would never set out to upset anyone."Your feedback is very important to us and we appreciate your input on a daily basis.

"So sorry if we offended any of you today."

The Age has contacted Negus for comment.

Corporal Roberts-Smith was awarded the VC for extraordinary heroism in bitter fighting as members of the Special Operations Task Group assaulted a Taliban stronghold in Kandahar Province on June 11, 2010.

At great risk to himself, Corporal Roberts-Smith drew fire away from his fellow Diggers by making himself an easy shot before single-handedly silencing two Taliban machinegun posts.

That enabled his unit to go on to clear a village of Taliban.

Opposition defence personnel spokesman Stuart Robert condemned the comments made by Negus and Stynes.

"For such extraordinary feats of bravery and for the humility with which [Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith] has lived his life to be so denigrated by these two journalists is not only unacceptable; it is contemptible," he said.

"The irony is that the freedom of speech these journalists exercise is a freedom neither of them have fought for -but which both enjoy."

Mr Robert called for an apology from the network and the journalists.

"This is a man whose hope is that his service and that of his regiment may lead to a national life free of the fear of simply walking on to a bus that may be blown up. Such a man is to be honoured and never denigrated."

"I therefore ask both the network and the journalists involved to apologise to this great Australian and his family for comments that demean a man who has spent his life serving our nation."

In 2012, Fairfax publications asserted in a number of articles that Yumi Stynes and George Negus had made derogatory comments regarding the sexual character of Victoria Cross recipient Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith and his use of IVF procedures. The discussion occurred on The Circle television chat show. Our interpretation was wrong and we accept that both Mr Negus and Ms Stynes were not referring to Corporal Roberts-Smith personally, but to strongly-built men generally. We apologise for the error.

These polls are not scientific and reflect the opinion only of visitors who have chosen to participate.

617 comments

No Stynes - he was diving down the bottom of the pool to find YOUR brain - oops - looks like he never found it. You are a muppet Yumi!

Commenter

Modern Woman

Location

Date and time

February 29, 2012, 7:22AM

Whats more interesting than the insults is the design of the tattoos this man is wearing. On his right chest is the insignia of the 33rd degree of Freemasonry-the highest rank one can reach in the Scottish Rite.

Commenter

Jason

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

February 29, 2012, 8:16AM

I agree. Why is it that young women seem to have lost all sense of decorum and dignity? Why does everything have to be about insults & sexual innuendo? Why do they have to sink so low? "Dud root..." uttered by this young woman is not the sort of thing that most people find attractive or clever. Come on girls, you can do better. In the meantime, Yumi owes Ben a big apology for being Miss Smutty Mouth! By the way, has SHE found her brain yet?

Commenter

marie

Location

melbourne

Date and time

February 29, 2012, 8:39AM

Marie - did you even read the article? It was George Negus who suggested 'blokes like that' may be a dud root. I would put money on it that he was referring to guys who are huge with tattoos, which are a dime a dozen these days.

His comment was poorly phrased but I don't believe he meant to directly insult Ben.

Commenter

sm

Location

Date and time

February 29, 2012, 8:55AM

Maybe its less about their sense of decorum, and more to do with a lack of awareness. No one expects the panel to understand world events, and the context of what our VC winner did, all they saw was a torso in a pool, and brought him down to their level. Maybe George and girls should focus on the things that they know like shoes and hair styles and leave the issue of world politics and the important issue of thinking to others.

Commenter

Terry

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

February 29, 2012, 8:56AM

What saddens me most is that no one in the audience stood up and said that it wasn't funny. Just because a camera is pointing at you doesn't mean you have any idea what you're talking about or that you are funny. And George, really...

Commenter

Geingis

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

February 29, 2012, 9:49AM

"The Thirty-third Degree confers on those Freemasons who are legitimately invested with it, the quality, title, privilege, and authority of Sovereign, Supremorum, Grand Inspectors-General of the Order. The peculiar duty of their mission is to teach and enlighten the Brethren; to preserve charity, union, and fraternal love among them; to maintain regularity in the works of each Degree, and to take care that it is preserved by others; to cause the dogmas, doctrines, institutes, constitutions, statutes, and regulations of the Order to be reverently regarded, and to preserve and defend them on every occasion; and, finally, everywhere to occupy themselves in works of peace and mercy."

It would interesting to hear Ben's take on that tattoo. I wonder if he is even a Freemason?

Anyway, this is a storm in a teacup. A lot of airheads getting worked up about airheads.

Commenter

Prang

Location

Date and time

February 29, 2012, 10:13AM

On closer inspection the tattoo doesn't look like the Freemason symbol. It might be a military insignia and the design might have originally been influenced by Freemasonry.

Commenter

Prang

Location

Date and time

February 29, 2012, 10:39AM

if the panel is going to comment on world events then they should perhaps do a bit of research so they have the background knowledge required to comment effectively?Not doing this is just crappy unprepared personal journalsim

Commenter

swilson5

Location

sydney

Date and time

February 29, 2012, 11:24AM

What have these brainless twits dressed up in front of a camera done or risked for their country? The answer: nothing. The problem is they have no respect for those willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. This guy is a hero - and an articulate and intelligent one at that - just have a look at what he has said on camera, unlike these morons. Leave the banter for those people that deserve it.

6 Mar Three more companies have pulled their sponsorship from the morning television show The Circle as Channel 10 today condemned a number of "extreme comments" and threats on social media sites targeting co-host Yumi Stynes.